Bella doesn’t want to see him.
"Philip," Alan growled, tugging at his hand. "What was that all about? Why did you start an argument with Theodore? Don’t forget—it was him who found Isabella."
Philip sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I’m sorry, Dad," he muttered with regret. "I just lost my temper when I heard she was in a coma. I blamed him without thinking it through."
Alan’s expression hardened. "If there is anyone to blame, it’s Zack," he hissed. "Focus your energy on finding him and making him pay."
"I’ve already mobilized all our sources," Philip said through gritted teeth. "Even if Zack is hiding in the depths of hell, I’ll drag him out and make him answer for this."
Alan nodded solemnly, his gaze softening as it shifted to Selena. She stood beside him, her face pale, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Selena," he called gently, taking her trembling hand. "Don’t worry. She’ll pull through this."
"I want to see her, Alan. Please, take me to her."
Alan gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I’ll speak to the doctor." He then turned his sharp gaze toward Philip, who immediately understood the silent command in his father’s eyes.
Without a word, Philip strode toward the doctor’s chamber.
~~~~~~~~
Bella’s eyes fluttered open, and a bright light overhead made her shut them tightly again. A dull, pounding ache in her head made her wince as she tried to process where she was.
"You are finally awake," a deep voice startled her. Her eyes shot open, and she frantically scanned the room, landing on a man sitting beside her bed, his gaze fixed intently on her. She recognized him immediately.
"You..."
This was the man who had helped Hazel and brought her back home. And it was the same man who had been chasing them.
"Who—who are you?" she asked, her voice trembling as she tried to sit up.
"Calm down." Theodore panicked. He leaned forward, gently helping her sit up and adjusting a pillow behind her back. "You’ve been in a coma for a week. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard."
"A week?" Bella’s eyes widened in disbelief. "I’ve been lying here for a week?" Her fingers instinctively moved to her chest, hoping to find the folded piece of paper. But it wasn’t there. It was gone. She glanced down at her hospital gown, her mind racing.
"Where is it?" she exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. "Who took it?"
"What are you looking for?" Theodore asked, surprised, his gaze searching hers. "What is missing?"
"My father’s number," she blurted. "I wrote it down on a piece of paper after seeing the missing person report on TV. My father was looking for me. I wrote down his number on a piece of paper, but I didn’t have a phone to call him. Now that paper is gone!"
"What?" Theodore was puzzled momentarily, unable to make sense of her words.
"I needed that number to contact him. How will I find him now?" she said urgently.
"Calm down first and listen to me. I’ll help you. But first, you need to rest and regain your strength."
But Bella was too anxious to listen to him. She grabbed his hand desperately. "Please, help me contact him. Call the police if you have to. That man, Zack—he said he was my fiancé, but he locked me in that house. I need to get out of this nightmare. Help me!"
Theodore’s heart clenched painfully as he watched her. The woman he adored, who once saw him as her safe harbor, now regarded him as a stranger. She was grasping for a lifeline to the father she had once distanced herself from, while her memories of their love had been erased.
"Bella, look at me." He grasped her shoulders gently, trying to steady her trembling frame. "I am Theodore, your husband. How could you forget me? We loved each other."
Bella gasped, her body tensing. A storm of emotions swirled within her. Zack had made the same claim, showing her photographs of their supposed life together. She had believed him, only to be deceived and imprisoned. Now, another man stood before her, insisting he was her husband.
She wasn’t going to fall into another trap. "Don’t touch me!" she shouted, shoving his hands off her shoulders. Her glare burned into him, fierce and unyielding. "Don’t think you can take advantage of my lost memory. Get out, or I’ll scream!"
Theodore staggered back, her words cutting deeper than any wound. His hands trembled at his sides as tears welled in his eyes, but he managed to steady his voice. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦
"Alright, I’ll go. But please, don’t get upset—it’s not good for you." He paused. "I’ll call the doctor. And don’t worry. Your parents will be here soon."
With that, he hurried out as if escaping, wiping his tears in his sleeve.
As he hurried down the corridor, he ran into Willow.
"Slow down. Where are you running away?" Her sharp eyes instantly took in his pale face and red-rimmed eyes. "What happened? Is everything alright?"
"Bella is awake," he replied, his voice shaking.
"She is awake?" Willow repeated, her face lighting up with relief and joy. But her smile faded the moment Theodore added, "She doesn’t remember me. She forgot everything about us."
"What? She forgot you?" Her expression turned grim. "You mean... she has lost her memory."
Theodore nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Yes. She doesn’t even want to see me."
Willow couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
"She asked for her father," Theodore continued bitterly. "The same man who ignored her, who never cared about her well-being. She hated him, Willow. She never wanted anything to do with him. And now, he is the only one she trusts." His voice cracked with anguish. "Why is this happening? Why is fate punishing me like this?"
Willow’s heart ached at the sight of his despair. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his arm. "Theo, listen to me. You have to be patient. Memory loss doesn’t mean the end. Give her time. Let her heal. She may not remember now, but she will. And until then, we have to stay strong for her."
Her words ignited a small flicker of hope in his chest – a hope that she would regain her memory once she recovered.
"Contact her parents. Tell them to come immediately," he instructed. "I’ll speak with the doctor."
Theodore hurried away, leaving Willow standing there.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
